KCKCC recognized for innovative use of technology

Kansas City Kansas Community College has been recognized as being among the most tech-savvy community colleges in the nation.

The Center for Digital Education has announced the winners of its 2016-17 Digital Community Colleges Survey. Now in its 12th year, the survey analyzes how community colleges use a range of technologies to improve services to students, faculty, staff and the community. Award winners have demonstrated innovative uses of technology including online courses, mobile apps, mobile environments, wireless networks and secure platforms. KCKCC came in fourth in the Mid-sized Colleges Category (between 5,000 and 10,000 students) and is the only community college in the state of Kansas to be ranked in the top 10 in any category.

“This year’s survey indicates community colleges are continuing to improve efforts at creating cost-effective platforms and Open Education Resources, mobile environments, real-time resources, telepresence robots and more to create robust online and mobile environments for their students,” said Kecia Ray, executive director for the Center for Digital Education. “Congratulations to this year’s survey winners.”

All accredited community colleges in the United States are eligible to participate in the survey and are classified based on enrollment. Award winners will be recognized at the Digital Colleges Survey Awards dinner at the end of April in New Orleans, La.

“Students do not come to Kansas City Kansas Community College for the technology,” said Baz Abouelenein, chief information officer for KCKCC. “But when they are here studying and working toward finishing their degree, they expect it.”

In addition to recognizing community colleges, the 2016-17 Digital Community Colleges survey also looks at what technology community colleges are prioritizing. Those surveyed said that mobility devices/app support is among their top priorities for the coming year, followed by website redesign/updates, cybersecurity tools and testing and digital content and curriculum.

For more information on the Center for Digital Education, visit www.centerdigitaled.com.